TOP TOUR: Tauseef Kamal and Imroj Sheikh with the children Amina Tauseef and Arhaan Sheikh. Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG
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This week, more than 20 people were reported after Ekstremsportveko in Voss. Despite the infection, visitors and locals are positive about how Voss has handled the infection.
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In the last week, the number of cases of infection after Ekstremsportveko in Voss has continued to rise.
Extreme sports week was arranged in the last week of June / beginning of July, and so far more than 20 people have been confirmed infected in the outbreak, writes NTB on Saturday.
Voss municipality started mass testing of the population after the first cases of infection from Ekstremsportveko became known.
– Despite how well prepared you are, there will always be a risk, says general manager of Ekstremsportveko, Kjetil Kriken, when VG meets him in Voss.
At the same time as the municipality is working on infection tracing, there is a full influx of tourists from home and abroad. Those VG talks to believe the infection is low, and that it feels free to be in Voss.
Also municipal chief physician, Eystein J. Hauge believes Voss has handled the outbreak quickly and is not worried about increased infection, he tells VG.
MEETING PLACE: The extreme sports week gathers athletes at the intersection of various extreme sports in Voss.
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Good control of the infection
– We are used to analyzing risk and taking measures to lower it, says general manager, Kjetil Kriken.
– In the pandemic, there are not very advanced measures, the most important thing is good hygiene and keeping your distance, he explains.
– We do a lot of outdoor activity and it gives a great opportunity to keep a distance from others, he adds.
Good collaboration with municipal chief physician Eystein J. Hauge and the health services has made it possible to handle cases of infection very quickly, Kriken explains.
– At the same time, it is important to praise the practitioners, who were first infected. They handled this very well internally, he says.
Usually there are 25,000 who participate in Ekstremsportveko in Voss, but this year there were only 1500.
– We could not cancel the event this year, but tried to make a pandemic version of it, says Kriken.
– Does not feel like a pandemic
Uniza khan (40) and Afreen mirza (31), have come with the family all the way from Oslo to spend their holiday in Voss.
– It does not feel like a pandemic here. I do not see people wearing face masks, and I feel quite free, says Khan.
– 19 cases of infection have been reported in Voss, what do you think about this?
– I was a little skeptical about the trip when I found out about it, says Mirza.
– But I think that as long as we keep our distance and have good hand hygiene, the trip can go as planned, she adds.
– We have mainly planned outdoor activities, and think that it will be possible to keep a distance from others, and at the same time avoid potential infection, says Khan.
Uniza khan and Shakir Pervez (right)
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Tourism from abroad can wait
Torbjørn Svarstad and Wenche Svarstad have taken the trip all the way from Jørpeland up to Voss – together with their grandson Lukas Fiskebekk from Stavanger.
– I think people are good in Voss. When you walk along the streets, you see that you can easily spread your hands on the road, says Wenche Svarstad.
Despite a positive effort among the population in the municipality, she believes that tourism from abroad could have been put on hold.
– We must first work to reduce the infection in Norway, before we can receive visits from abroad, she believes.
– I’m not so happy that we have opened up to tourists from abroad. It’s gone a little too fast.
—-ON THE ROOF OF THE CULTURE HOUSE: “Imagine having one and a half acres of lawn all to yourself,” says Heine Åmot (49) from Valdres as he enjoys the sight of athletes sliding down in paragliders from the mountain Hanguren. Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG
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Low infection pressure at Voss
– The most important thing when we are to deal with the outbreak in the municipality is to be quick to deal with those who are infected, says chief physician at Voss, Eystein J. Hauge, to VG.
Good cooperation with the local population throughout the pandemic has meant a lot to us, he explains.
– It is also important to remember that Voss is a small area where people generally live scattered. It reduces the likelihood of becoming infected and makes it easier to control the outbreaks, he says.
– With the exception of the 4 to 5 outbreaks we have had, the infection pressure in Voss has remained consistently low, Hauge says.
He says that in addition to 19 cases of infection at Ekstremsportveko, there are two new cases of infection in the municipality.
So far, two Vossers have tested positive in connection with Ekstremsportveko, the other 19 cases are linked to other municipalities.
– These two cases have been uncovered as a result of us testing 250 vossers in connection with social events during Ekstremsportveko, he says.
– Are you worried that there may be an increase in infection over the summer, considering that there is a lot of tourism in Voss?
– No, I’m not worried about increased infection. As long as people comply with basic infection control rules, such as washing their hands, keeping a meter away, testing themselves for symptoms and staying home when they are ill, the municipal chief says.
Hjørdis Mestad, Judith Bjørk and Nina Mestad enjoy a soft drink after a mountain hike in the warm weather.
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– Is more life in the streets
Sigrid Bendiksen (47) and her daughter Ann Elin Bendiksen are happy to see more people in the streets.
– It creates a lot more life and stir here. It’s so nice to see more life in the streets again, they say.
They also say that they are happy to see tourism going again – both from home and abroad.
—-Ann Elin Bendiksen and Sigrid Bendiksen / Wenche Svarstad, Lucas Fiskebekk and Torbjørn Svarstad / Kristi Prestegard Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG
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Not sure how the delta variant will affect
It is a bit boring that there has been some infection due to extreme sports this week, says Kristi Prestegård (22) who lives in Voss.
– I see that there are a lot of people here this summer and the streets are full, she says.
– Are you afraid that there will be a lot of infection this summer?
– If it is like the summer of 2020, then I think it will go very well this summer, she says.
– The only thing that is uncertain is how the new delta variant will spread, which may have some effect on the infection, she adds.
—-OUTDOOR ACTIVITY: Voss is always busy in the summer with a good number of outdoor activities. Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG
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